Fluorescent lighting assembly with integral ballast

Abstract

A lighting assembly 2 includes a ballast subassembly 4, fluorescent lamps 30 and connectors 50 for connecting the ends of two lamps forming an associated pair. The ballast subassembly 4 is connected to only one base of two lamps and the other ends are connected by commoning socket connectors 50 that are not attached to the ballast subassembly 4. The ballast subassembly 4 includes a power supply circuit 100 and a ballast circuit 102 that can energize two fluorescent lamps 30 with remote lamp bases 34 commoned. The ballast subassembly 4 is mounted on one end of the lighting subassembly, for example on one end of a troffer 80. No wires or other direct electrical connection are necessary with the other end of the lighting assembly 4, the lamps 30, or the troffer 80. The commoning connectors 50 can employ bus contacts 64 having integral cantilever terminals 74 extending from a central bus section 66. These contacts can be mounted in socket housings 52 for connecting two side by side instant start fluorescent lamps.

We claim: 
     
       1. A ballast subassembly for use in a fluorescent lighting assembly, the ballast subassembly comprising: a fluorescent ballast circuit contained within a ballast housing, the ballast housing being configured for mounting on only one end of a fluorescent lighting troffer, the ballast subassembly including at least one pair of fluorescent sockets, the ballast circuit being capable of initially energizing two fluorescent lamps when the ballast circuit is connected only to a single end of each fluorescent lamp received within the two sockets in the ballast subassembly with opposite ends of the two fluorescent lamps being electrically commoned without connection to the ballast circuit, whereby the ballast subassembly can be mounted in a fluorescent lighting troffer without external conductors extending between opposite ends of the fluorescent lighting troffer.   
     
     
       2. The ballast subassembly of claim 1 wherein the ballast subassembly includes two pairs of sockets, the ballast circuit being capable of initially energizing two pairs of fluorescent lamps. 
     
     
       3. The ballast subassembly of claim 2 wherein the ballast subassembly comprises an instant start fluorescent ballast subassembly. 
     
     
       4. The ballast subassembly of claim 3 wherein the ballast subassembly includes a ballast circuit capable of energizing four instant start fluorescent lamps, each having a length of four feet. 
     
     
       5. The ballast subassembly of claim 1 wherein the ballast circuit comprises an electronic ballast circuit. 
     
     
       6. The ballast subassembly of claim 1 wherein the ballast subassembly includes a power supply circuit connectable to a source of electrical power. 
     
     
       7. A fluorescent lighting assembly comprising: a ballast subassembly including a circuit including a ballast, the circuit being connectable to a source of electrical power and at least one pair of fluorescent sockets;   at least one pair of fluorescent lamps, each lamp having a first base and a second base, the first and second base of each lamp including at least one pin, at least one pin on the first base of each lamp being connected to a socket in the ballast subassembly so that the ballast energizes the fluorescent lamp at the first base; and   an electrical connector connecting at least one pin on the second bases of the two lamps forming each pair, so that the second end of each lamp of each pair is only connected to the second end of the other lamp of each pair.   
     
     
       8. The lighting assembly of claim 7 wherein the ballast comprises a ballast capable of energizing two instant start fluorescent lamps when connected to only one end of each lamp. 
     
     
       9. The lighting assembly of claim 7 wherein the ballast comprises an electronic ballast. 
     
     
       10. The lighting assembly of claim 7 wherein the ballast subassembly and the electrical connector are independently mounted at opposite ends of a troffer. 
     
     
       11. A fluorescent lighting assembly comprising: at least one pair of fluorescent lamps, each lamp having a first base and an opposite second base, the first base of each lamp being located adjacent a first end of the lighting assembly and the second base of each lamp being located adjacent a second end of the lighting assembly;   a ballast subassembly located adjacent only the first end of the lighting assembly, the ballast subassembly including a ballast and fluorescent sockets mounted thereon for connection to the first base of each lamp to supply electrical energy for starting the two lamps of each pair; and   an electrical connection between the second bases of the two lamps of each pair, the electrical connection extending only between the second bases of the lamps of each pair;   whereby the ballast need not be connected to the second bases of the lamps located adjacent the second end of the fluorescent lighting assembly.   
     
     
       12. The lighting assembly of claim 11 wherein the lamps and the ballast are instant start fluorescent lamps and ballasts. 
     
     
       13. The lighting assembly of claim 11 wherein the ballast subassembly includes lamp sockets as part of an integral ballast subassembly. 
     
     
       14. The lighting assembly of claim 11 wherein the only non-grounded electrical path connecting opposite ends of the lamps is through the fluorescent lamps. 
     
     
       15. The lighting assembly of claim 11 wherein the electrical connection between the second bases of a pair of lamps comprises two fluorescent sockets, each socket including at least one terminal, each terminal in each socket being electrically connected to a terminal in the other socket. 
     
     
       16. The lighting assembly of claim 15 wherein each terminal comprises a section of a bus extending between the two sockets. 
     
     
       17. The lighting assembly of claim 16 wherein the bus and the terminal comprises sections of a stamped and formed one piece member, each terminal comprising a cantilever arm extending from an end of an intermediate bus section. 
     
     
       18. The lighting assembly of claim 11 wherein the electrical connection comprises a socket subassembly, the socket subassembly comprising an insulating housing, the housing including spaced housing sections configured to receive a fluorescent lamp base, the socket subassembly also including at least one electrical contact member including a bus section and two spaced terminal sections configured to electrically engage a fluorescent lamp base received in a corresponding housing section in which the terminal section is located. 
     
     
       19. The lighting assembly of claim 18 wherein two contact members are included in the socket subassembly. 
     
     
       20. The lighting assembly of claim 11 further comprising a troffer, the ballast and the electrical connection being mounted to the troffer at opposite ends of the troffer, with the fluorescent lamps being attached to the ballast and to the electrical connection without any external electrical conductors extending to the electrical connection.